❓ Ms. Saffioti questions the Treasurer on his commitment to building Roe Highway stage 8, a key election promise. The Treasurer reaffirms his commitment, criticising the opposition's past actions and highlighting the project's importance.
AnsweredQoN 161Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROE
HIGHWAY STAGE 8 — ELECTION COMMITMENT
161. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Treasurer:
I refer the Treasurer to his election commitments in the seat
of Riverton to build Roe Highway stage 8, including this pamphlet distributed
in the March 2013 election, which states —
The Liberals will build the Roe 8
Extension to alleviate traffic congestion.
(1) Does he stand by this election commitment?
(2) Given that
the member for Riverton is now the Treasurer, and yesterday spoke about the
importance of capital outlays, will he be committing funding to this project in
the upcoming state budget?
HIGHWAY STAGE 8 — ELECTION COMMITMENT
161. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Treasurer:
I refer the Treasurer to his election commitments in the seat
of Riverton to build Roe Highway stage 8, including this pamphlet distributed
in the March 2013 election, which states —
The Liberals will build the Roe 8
Extension to alleviate traffic congestion.
(1) Does he stand by this election commitment?
(2) Given that
the member for Riverton is now the Treasurer, and yesterday spoke about the
importance of capital outlays, will he be committing funding to this project in
the upcoming state budget?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for West Swan for allowing me to stand to talk about one of
the issues I am most passionate about.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I am most passionate about it, yes! This is one of the issues
that has been the defining difference between our side and the opposition's
side for over a decade. It goes back, as I think my colleague the Minister for
Planning once said, to one of the worst acts of planning bastardry in this
state. I refer to when the opposition excised the Fremantle Eastern Bypass from
the road reserve to placate the few people who wanted to get huge cash
windfalls from owning adjacent land in the area. That actually disrupted the
long-term plans of having efficient truck and vehicular traffic around the
state. Then, of course, the good burghers of Fremantle wondered where the
trucks would go if they excised the Fremantle bypass and built Roe 8. I noticed
the Mayor of Fremantle has finally clued in on that matter; he is complaining
about trucks on small streets. He was the candidate for Riverton campaigning
against Roe 8. We have consistently committed to building Roe 8, and we will do
so. One of our problems was the previous Labor administration purposefully
obstructed it—even though it agreed to build it with the commonwealth—by
building the spaghetti junction where Roe 7 interacts with the freeway, which
was built as a barrier to building Roe 8, and added in the vicinity of $100 million
to the build. Again, another act of planning bastardry!
Labor also chose the site for Fiona Stanley Hospital,
although it was purchased a long time ago, because it was near Roe 8. Now we
will have congestion. Therefore, we went out and spent a large amount of money,
planning and going through the environmental process to see if we can build it
efficiently and environmentally soundly. That is not fully completed, but it
looks very good. We are committed to building Roe 8, even if the guys sitting
opposite sit in front of the bulldozers.
Mr M. McGowan :
When?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Let
me finish. We are committed to building Roe 8 even if opposition members sit in
front of the bulldozers —
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I
hope they do! I am looking forward to this project. It will be a defining issue
given that at the last election, the opposition committed to excising the land —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the second time.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
opposition committed to excising the land for Roe 8 from the road reserve and
prevented it from ever being built. I might add, the opposition also promised
to save $600 million to fund Metronet from excising the funding in the forward
estimates for Roe 8. The opposition candidate was in my electorate condemning
me for having no money in the budget. Yet here the opposition were, funding
Metronet by saving $600 million! Now that is really good budgeting if I have
ever seen any! Fictional money! I tell members that I am very pleased that my
compatriot, the member for Alfred Cove and I will be working with the Premier to
build Roe 8 in the future.
thank the member for West Swan for allowing me to stand to talk about one of
the issues I am most passionate about.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I am most passionate about it, yes! This is one of the issues
that has been the defining difference between our side and the opposition's
side for over a decade. It goes back, as I think my colleague the Minister for
Planning once said, to one of the worst acts of planning bastardry in this
state. I refer to when the opposition excised the Fremantle Eastern Bypass from
the road reserve to placate the few people who wanted to get huge cash
windfalls from owning adjacent land in the area. That actually disrupted the
long-term plans of having efficient truck and vehicular traffic around the
state. Then, of course, the good burghers of Fremantle wondered where the
trucks would go if they excised the Fremantle bypass and built Roe 8. I noticed
the Mayor of Fremantle has finally clued in on that matter; he is complaining
about trucks on small streets. He was the candidate for Riverton campaigning
against Roe 8. We have consistently committed to building Roe 8, and we will do
so. One of our problems was the previous Labor administration purposefully
obstructed it—even though it agreed to build it with the commonwealth—by
building the spaghetti junction where Roe 7 interacts with the freeway, which
was built as a barrier to building Roe 8, and added in the vicinity of $100 million
to the build. Again, another act of planning bastardry!
Labor also chose the site for Fiona Stanley Hospital,
although it was purchased a long time ago, because it was near Roe 8. Now we
will have congestion. Therefore, we went out and spent a large amount of money,
planning and going through the environmental process to see if we can build it
efficiently and environmentally soundly. That is not fully completed, but it
looks very good. We are committed to building Roe 8, even if the guys sitting
opposite sit in front of the bulldozers.
Mr M. McGowan :
When?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Let
me finish. We are committed to building Roe 8 even if opposition members sit in
front of the bulldozers —
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I
hope they do! I am looking forward to this project. It will be a defining issue
given that at the last election, the opposition committed to excising the land —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the second time.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
opposition committed to excising the land for Roe 8 from the road reserve and
prevented it from ever being built. I might add, the opposition also promised
to save $600 million to fund Metronet from excising the funding in the forward
estimates for Roe 8. The opposition candidate was in my electorate condemning
me for having no money in the budget. Yet here the opposition were, funding
Metronet by saving $600 million! Now that is really good budgeting if I have
ever seen any! Fictional money! I tell members that I am very pleased that my
compatriot, the member for Alfred Cove and I will be working with the Premier to
build Roe 8 in the future.
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